Hybrid takeout clip

ABSTRACT

The clip of this invention preferably has a tubular insulating sleeve having a pair of opposed transverse wall slots of different lengths and a pair of opposed arcuate lips projecting from one end thereof. A pair of polarized, arcuate takeout terminals are exposed by the slats. The polarized takeout terminals are in electrical contact with a pair of opposed resilient prongs projecting from one end of the sleeve, each prong being covered by a lip and being constructed to slidably receive a takeout terminal of a second like takeout clip.

United States Patent [191 Ludwig [451 Sept. 23, 1975 HYBRID TAKEOUT CLIP [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Walker-Hall-Sears, Inc., Houston,

Tex.

22 Filed: June 28,1974

21 Appl. No.: 484,060

Philip James Ludwig, Houston, Tex.

[52] U.S. CI. 339/47 R; 339/184 R; 339/258 R [51] Int. Cl. H01R 13/28 [58] Field of Search 339/32, 47, 176, 184, 258

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,291,545 1/1919 Keim 339/258 C 3,092,430 6/1963 Miller 339/32 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,191,838 5/1970 United Kingdom 339/32 R Primary ExaminerJoseph H. McGlynn Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael P. Breston [5 7] ABSTRACT The clip of this invention preferably has a tubular insulating sleeve having a pair of opposed transverse wall slots of different lengths and a pair of opposed arcuate lips projecting from one end thereof. A pair of polarized, arcuate takeout terminals are exposed by the slats. The polarized takeout terminals are in electrical contact with a pair of opposed resilient prongs projecting from one end of the sleeve, each prong being covered by a lip and being constructed to slidably receive a takeout terminal of a second like takeout clip.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975

(PRIOR ART) 1; HYBRID TAKEOUT CLIP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: v

plates in electrical contact with the wires 'of a-cable re- Ceifed y of ending through the tubular sleeve. Such a device B male connector."

Another device typically constructed of a'split, hol

low rectangular shaped body is also mo'un'tecl'about a cable, 'and has a pair of opposed, resiliently-mounted arcuate prongs of different widths'bori'structed to slid ably receive the take-orit'plates of the malei'connector.

This device forms a female connector whose split body is held'togjetheiiby transverse screws which frequently become ,unser ewed field'us e'. i

It is a main object of the piesent invention to-eliminate the need for a separate male connector land a separate female connector and to provide a hybrid takeout clip which can serve the function of either connector.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hybrid takeout clip which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which is of stacked construction requiring a minimum of parts and labor, Which requires no soldered connections, which is long lasting under field use, and which has a tubular configuration to occupy a minimum of space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The hybrid takeout clip of this invention comprises an insulating sleeve having a pair of opposed transverse wall slots of different longitudinal lengths for exposing a pair of polarized plates connected to the wires of an electric cable mounted inside the sleeve. A pair of opposed resiliently-mounted prongs, electrically communicating with the takeout plates, project outwardly from one end of the sleeve. The prongs are constructed to slidably receive the takeout plates of another-like hybrid clip.

In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve is of tubular construction and the means for electrically connecting the wires of a takeout cable to the takeout plates comprises a tubular plug having an outer cylindrical wall constructed to snugly fit inside the sleeve with the wires of the cable being sandwiched between the takeout plates and the cylindrical wall of the plug.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a prior art male takeout connector, a female takeout connector, and the manner of connecting a third cable to one of the two other cables coupled to the connectors;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view, partly in section, of the hybrid takeout clip of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the plug for coupling the wires of the takeout cable to the takeout plates;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of the takeout clip of this invention shown coupled to a second like takeout clip;

FIG. 6 is an end view taken on line 6- -6 in FIG. 5; and

FIG. illustrates the manner of coupling three take-' out clips or this invention to' each other and to a conventional takeout connector.

In the 'dr avviri' gs the samereference characters are used to designate "the same or similar parts for ease of understanding of the invention. I 1 2 FIG- l illustrates a prior art male takeout connector,

generally designatedas 10, and a female takeoutcon- 1 nector, generally designated as 12. The male connector 10 comprises a split tubular body having a pair of opposite transverse wall slots 13 and 14 of different longitudinal lengths for exposing a pair of opposed, different widthparcuate takeout plates 15 and 16, electrically soldered to the polarized wires of an electric cable 17.

The female connector 12 has a split; rectangular shaped housing adapted to be mounted about an electric. .cable. 18 for electrically connecting the wires thereof to apair of resiliently-mounted outwardlyprojecting, arcuatepolarized prongs l9 and 20 of dif- 20 'ferent widths-such as to slidably receive the takeout plates 15 and 16; respectively. The two sections of the housing are held together'by screws' 21" which frequently come off under field use. Should it be desired to electrically connect the polarized wires of a third cable 24 to the second cable 18 (or to the first cable 1 7), a splice is made in the second cable 18 and the splice is covered with insulating electric tape.

In accordance with this invention, the disadvantages of the prior art separate male and female connectors are obviated by the provision of a single, hybrid takeout clip, generally designated as 30, which can serve the function of either connector. Clip 30 comprises a tubular insulating sleeve 32 having a pair of opposed transverse slots 34, 36 of different longitudinal length and a pair of opposed resilient arcuate lips 38, 40 projecting outwardly from one end of sleeve 32. The lips have different widths. A pair of metallic segments 42, 44 are provided. One end 45 of each segment is arcuate in shape and may be sustained by an angle of, say, about The other end 46 of each segment is of reduced width so as to become resilient relative to its adjoining stiff arcuate plate portion 45.

The inner cylindrical wall of the tubular sleeve 32 has a pair of diametrically opposed shoulders 48 (FIG. 4). The arcuate plate portions 45 of segments 42, 44 are slidably received on the opposite side of shoulders 48 with the end portions 46 (hereinafter called prongs) being covered by lips 38, 40.

To electrically connect the polarized wires 51, 52 of an electric cable 50 to the arcuate plates 45, there is provided a tubular body 54 having a cylindrical portion 55 and an enlarged head portion 56. The length of the tubular portion 55 is nearly equal to the length of the cylindrical portion of sleeve 32. The ends of wires 51 and 52 are stripped of insulation and are positioned on the outer cylindrical wall of plug 54.

To assemble the hybrid takeout clip of this invention, the plates 45 are slidably received inside tubular sleeve 32 on the opposite side of shoulders 48. Plug 54 is pressed inside the cylindrical cavity formed by the inner cylindrical walls of plates 45 so as to establish a pressure fit between the polarized wires 51 and 52 and the polarized plates 45. This pressure fit obviates the need for soldered connections, as was required in the prior an male connector shown in FIG. I.

In use, the arcuate plates 45 are exposed as polarized takeout terminals for connection to a pair of polarized takeout prongs 46 of a second like takeout hybrid clip 80 or these polarized prongs may be connected to the takeout terminals 82 of a conventional male connector (FIG. 7). A third hybrid clip 80' is shown in dotted lines in position for connection to clip 80.

While this invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that constructional modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims:

What is claimed is:

l. A hybrid takeout clip comprising:

an insulating sleeve having a pair of opposed transverse wall slots;

a pair of opposed takeout plates covering said slots;

and

a pair of opposed resilient prongs electrically connected to said takeout plates and projecting outwardly of said sleeve, said opposed transverse wall slots exposing said takeout plates for connection to the prongs of a second like takeout clip.

2. A takeout clip comprising:

a tubular insulating sleeve having a pair of opposed transverse wall slots of different length and a pair of arcuate lips of different width projecting from one end thereof;

a pair of metallic segments, each segment having an arcuate takeout plate and a resilient prong, said segments being constructed to be slidably received inside said tubular sleeve whereby and said prongs are covered by said lips; and

said opposed transverse wall slots exposing said takeout plates for connection to the prongs of a second like takeout clip.

3. The takeout clip of claim 2 and further comprising a cylindrical plug having a longitudinal bore therethrough for receiving the wires of an electric cable through the bore, the bare metallic end portions of the wires being disposed on the outer cylindrical wall of the plug constructed to be inserted inside said tubular sleeve and covered by said arcuate takeout plates.

4. The takeout clip of claim 3 wherein said plug has an enlarged head at one end thereof. 

1. A hybrid takeout clip comprising: an insulating sleeve having a pair of opposed transverse wall slots; a pair of opposed takeout plates covering said slots; and a pair of opposed resilient prongs electrically connected to said takeout plates and projecting outwardly of said sleeve, said opposed transverse wall slots exposing said takeout plates for connection to the prongs of a second like takeout clip.
 2. A takeout clip comprising: a tubular insulating sleeve having a pair of opposed transverse wall slots of different length and a pair of arcuate lips of different width projecting from one end thereof; a pair of metallic segments, each segment having an arcuate takeout plate and a resilient prong, said segments being constructed to be slidably received inside said tubular sleeve whereby and said prongs are covered by said lips; and said opposed transverse wall slots exposing said takeout plates for connection to the prongs of a second like takeout clip.
 3. The takeout clip of claim 2 and further comprising a cylindrical plug having a longitudinal bore therethrough for receiving the wires of an electric cable through the bore, the bare metallic end portions of the wires being disposed on the outer cylindrical wall of the plug constructed to be inserted inside said tubular sleeve and covered by said arcuate takeout plates.
 4. The takeout clip of claim 3 wherein said plug has an enlarged head at one end thereof. 